diamond geezer

Monday, December 30, 2013

dg 2013 index

Ten memorable London jaunts in 20131) New River: I took this artificial channel's 400th anniversary as a great excuse to walk its full length. Don't wait to follow me. [photos]2) Paddington to Farringdon: For the tube's 150th anniversary I spent a week walking the entire length of the original route. It's changed a bit. [photos]3) Television Centre: I did 'the tour', while it was still possible, before the BBC moved out. Even better, I went back to sit in the audience for a sitcom.4) Open House: This year's highlights included two Docklands skyscrapers, Beckton Sewage Works and Stratford Market Depot.5) QEOP opens: At long last London's Olympic Park was reopened to the public, at least partly. Most of you haven't rediscovered it yet [photos]6) Clarence House: Open in Summer only, with the opportunity to stand in Prince Charles's drawing room. A fascinating (if brief) tour.7) Jack The Ripper's murder sites: You can take a tour, or you can walk round the sites yourself. I'd say the latter beats the former.8) Battersea Power Station: I got back inside, before the developers swallow the place whole.9) Rain Room: Queuing for the Barbican's interactive shower was almost as memorable as standing underneath it, in the dry.10) Victoria Embankment: There's a heck of a lot of interest crammed into Bazalgette's sewer cover. [photos]

Ten favourite Out-of-London destinations1) Paris: For a birthday treat I took myself to the French capital for the day, and je ne regrette rien. [photos]2) York: A beautiful northern city - I tried to visit as much as I possibly could in a day.3) Big Brother House: You may not have been impressed, but I got to sit in the actual chair, in the actual house, via the actual garden. [photos]4) Bristol: There's much more to this city than its gorgeous suspension bridge. [photos]5) Bekonscot: I hadn't been to this Bucks model village since I was six, and I'm glad to report it's just as magical today.6) Saltaire: A Victorian mill village north of Bradford, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [photos]7) Library of Birmingham: This brand new civic building lives up to every good thing you've heard about it (and there's a great view from the roofs). [photos]8) Salisbury & Stonehenge: All the international tourists do it, and you probably ought to too. [photos]9) St Albans: The closest city to Greater London is packed with stuff to see, Roman or otherwise.10) Amberley Museum: Stick this industrial heritage attraction on your to-do list for 2014.